Lateral elliptical exercise apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a standup exercise apparatus that simulates lateral climbing with arm exercise. More particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise machine having separately supported pedals for the feet and arm exercise coordinated with the motion of the feet. Each pedal follows an separate elongate curve with lateral movement. As one pedal moves downward on the inside portion of one pedal curve, the other pedal moves sideways upward following the outer portion of the other pedal curve. A pair of cranks rotate in opposite directions when driven by the pedal movement. The orientation of the pedal curves is adjustable to exercise leg muscles differently. Arm exercise is coordinated with the foot pedal movements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field

The present invention relates to a standup exercise apparatus thatsimulates lateral climbing with arm exercise. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to an exercise machine having separatelysupported pedals for the feet and arm exercise coordinated with thesideways motion of the feet.

2. State of the Art

The benefits of regular exercise to improve overall health, appearanceand longevity are well documented in the literature. For exerciseenthusiasts the search continues for safe apparatus that provides fullbody exercise for maximum benefit in minimum time.

Recently, a new category of exercise equipment has appeared on thecommercial market called elliptical cross trainers. These cross trainersguide the feet along a generally elliptical shaped curve moving forwardand rearward of an operator to simulate the motions of jogging andslight climbing. There is a need for an elliptical exercise machinecapable of lateral or sideways climbing foot movements.

Recently, the art has seen some elliptical motions with front to rearclimbing movements such as Chu in U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,806, Goh in U.S.Pat. No. 6,551,218 and Stewart et al. in U.S. Pat. Application No.2006/0281604. Other climbing apparatus having front to rear foot motionsappear in Anderson et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,052,439 and 7,153,238 and Kuoin U.S. Pat. Application No. 2006/0264301. The teeter-totter categoryaddresses side to side lateral foot movements in Piaget et al. U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,518,470 and 5,575,739, Yu in U.S. Pat. Application No.2005/0209058, Yang in U.S. Pat. No. 6,641,506 and Gray in U.S. Pat. No.6,679,813. Some sideways foot movement is added to the ellipticalapparatus shown by Chang in U.S. Pat. Application No. 2006/0046902.

There is a need for a pedal operated exercise machine that can be safelyoperated in the standup position whereby the arms and legs can beexercised with the feet moving through a generally lateral ellipticalmovement. There is also a need to adjust the orientation of the lateralelliptical pedal curve to exercise the leg muscles differently duringlateral climbing.

It is one objective of this invention to provide lateral ellipticalpedal movement with a path generating linkage coordinated with armexercise. Another object of this invention is to provide an adjustablepedal motion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the kinematic motion control of pedalswhich simulate lateral climbing during several modes of operation. Moreparticularly, apparatus is provided that offers variable intensityexercise through a leg operated cyclic motion in which the pedalsupporting each foot is guided through successive sideways positionsduring the motion cycle while a load resistance acts upon the mechanism.

The pedals are guided through a vertically elongated curve motion whilethe sideways pedal angles vary during the pedal cycle to add some ankleexercise. Arm exercise is by arm levers coordinated with the mechanismguiding the foot pedals.

In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a separate pedal foreach foot, each pedal being supported by a foot support which ispivotally connected to a crank and a guide. The cranks are connected bya coupling device such as a gear pair which rotate in oppositedirections with the cranks. The guides are rocker links pivotallyconnected to the foot supports and the framework using rocker linkbrackets. The rocker link brackets can be relocated manually or byactuator to change the pedal motion.

Arm exercise is provided with handles pivotally connected to theframework and coordinated with the foot supports. When the foot is up,the handle corresponding to that foot is generally up.

Load resistance is imposed upon the crank arms through pulleys and beltsfrom a flywheel and frictional resistance. A control system regulatesthe load on the flywheel to vary the resistance to exercise. Theresistance can be varied during operation through a control systemwithin easy reach of the operator. Other forms of load resistance suchas an alternator, magnetic, air, fluid, etc. may also be used.

Movement of the pedals cause the pedals to follow a vertically elongatedpath similar to an ellipse where the longer major axis of the ellipse isgenerally inclined to provide the lateral climbing motion. The shorterminor axis of the ellipse provides the sideways foot motion.

An alternate embodiment is shown using adjustable tracks as guides forthe foot support. An actuator and control system adjusts the incline ofthe tracks to exercise leg muscles differently.

In summary, this invention provides the operator with stable foot pedalsupport having motions that simulate lateral climbing with very lowjoint impact and upper body exercise. The pedal motion exhibitsvertically oriented elliptical lateral foot motion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of the preferred embodiment of an exercisemachine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is the side view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a frontal view of an alternate embodiment using guide tracksadjusted close together;

FIG. 4 is a frontal view of the alternate embodiment of FIG. 3 with theguide tracks adjusted farther apart;

FIG. 5 is a frontal view of the alternate embodiment of FIG. 3 with theguide tracks adjusted to a vertical position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in detail, pedals 50 and 52 are shown in FIGS.1 and 2 in the lowermost and uppermost positions of the firstembodiment. Pedals 50 and 52 are supported by foot supports 24 and 26and traverse vertically elongated closed loop paths 3 and 5. Cranks20,22 rotate about pivot axis 21,23 and are pivotally connected to footsupports 24,26 at pivots 25,27. Meshed gears 16 and 18 rotate aboutpivot axis 21,23 and with cranks 20,22 causing them to rotate inopposite directions.

Rocker links 28,30 are connected to foot supports 24,26 at pivots 29,31and to adjustment brackets 62,64 at pivots 33,35. Body weight causespedal 52 to lower on the inside portion of vertically elongated curve 5while pedal 50 rises on the outer portion of vertically elongated curve3 with lateral motion. When pedal 50 begins the downward decent alongthe inner portion of curve 3, pedal 52 rises along the outer portion ofcurve 5 with lateral elliptical foot motion.

Pulley 17 rotates with crank 22 about pivot axis 23. Belt 19 is engagedwith pulley 17 and drives flywheel 49 about pivot axis 51. Friction belt53 wraps flywheel 49 to provide load resistance which is adjustableusing knob 55 and lever 57. As an alternate, an actuator 91 as shown inFIG. 3 can regulate the load resistance as part of control system 60through wires 7.

Arm exercise is provided along side the operator by handles 36,38 whichrotate about pivots 47,45. Connecting links 32,34 are pivotallyconnected to handles 36,38 at pivots 41,43 and to foot supports 24,26 atpivots 37,39. Foot support extension 54 locates connecting link 32 atthe rear of the exercise apparatus.

Framework 70 supports pivot axis 21,23, handle pivots 45,47, flywheelpivot 51 and adjustment lever 57. Framework 70 connects to horizontalframe members 72,74 which are configured to rest on a horizontalsurface. Frame member 76 connects frame members 72 and 74 and supportsrocker pivot adjustment brackets 62,64. By relocating rocker linkadjustment brackets 62,64 to alternate positions 61 or 63, theorientation of pedal curves 3,5 can be changed for different exercise.The relocation of brackets 62,64 can be manual or by actuator 91 asshown in FIG. 3 with control system 60.

An alternate embodiment is shown in FIGS. 3,4 and 5 where the rockerlink guides 28,30 have been replaced with guide tracks 80,82. Rollers13,15 rotate about pivots 29,31 and are in rollable contact with guidetracks 80,82. Guide tracks 80,82 are connected to frame member 76 atpivots 81,83. Actuator 91 is supported by bracket 77 which connects toframe member 76. Adjustment links 84,86 are connected to guide tracks80,82 at pivots 85,87 and to actuator screw nut 93 at pivots 89.Actuator screw nut 93 can move along actuator screw 95 as directed bycontrol system 60 through wires 7,9 by conventional means. The rest ofthe alternate embodiment is the same as the preferred embodiment ofFIGS. 1 and 2 with the arm exercise handles 36,38 and flywheel 49 notshown for clarity.

FIG. 3 shows the upper portion of guide tracks 80,82 close togethercausing pedals 50,52 to follow inclined pedal curves 6,8. FIG. 4 showsguide tracks 80,82 adjusted further apart such that pedals 50,52 followpedal curves 10,12. FIG. 5 shows guide tracks 80,82 adjusted to bevertical resulting in pedals 50,52 following the vertical ellipticalpedal curves 2 and 4 with lateral movement.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative,and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the claims, rather than by foregoing description. All changes whichcome within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to beembraced within their scope.

1) an exercise apparatus comprising: a framework, said framework configured to be supported by a horizontal surface; a pair of cranks, each said crank rotatably connected to said framework at a pivot axis; a coupling device, said coupling device configured to cause said cranks to have operably associated rotation; a pair of foot supports, each said foot support pivotally connected to a respective said crank and having a foot engaging pedal; a pair of guides, each said guide operably associated with a respective said foot support and said framework to cause a portion of said foot support to have a generally up and down movement; said pedal configured to move relative to said framework when the foot of the user is rotating said crank whereby said pedal follows an elongate curve with movement that is lateral to an operator. 2) The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said coupling device causes one said crank to rotate in a direction opposite to the other said crank. 3) The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising arm exercise, said arm exercise operably associated with said foot supports. 4) The exercise apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said arm exercise comprises a pair of handles, each said handle operably associated with a corresponding said foot support. 5) The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a flywheel, said flywheel rotatably connected to said framework and operably associated with said crank. 6) The exercise apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising a load resistance, said load resistance operably associated with said flywheel, a means for adjustment of said load resistance and, a control system, said control system positioned within reach of the operator whereby said load resistance can be varied during operation of said exercise machine. 7) The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said coupling device is a pair of meshed gears, each said gear attached to a respective said crank to rotate about said pivot axis whereby one said crank rotates opposite to the other said crank. 8) The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guides are operably associated with an adjustment device, said adjustment device configured to change the orientation of said elongate curve for said pedal. 9) The exercise apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said adjustment device is an actuator, said actuator operably associated with said guides and a control system such that said control system can change the position of said guides during operation of said exercise apparatus. 10) The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guide comprises a rocker link, said rocker link pivotally connected to said foot support and said framework. 11) The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guide comprises a roller and track, said roller pivotally connected to said foot support and in rollable contact with said track, said track connected to said framework. 12) An exercise apparatus comprising: a framework, said framework configured to be supported by a horizontal surface; a pair of cranks, each said crank rotatably connected to said framework at a pivot axis; a pair of meshed gears, each said gear attached to a respective said crank to rotate about said pivot axis; a pair of foot supports, each said foot support pivotally connected to a respective said crank; a pair of pedals, each pedal attached to a respective foot support and following a separate elongate curve; a pair of guides, each said guide operably associated with a respective said foot support and said framework; said pedals configured to move relative to said framework when the foot of the user is rotating said cranks whereby one said pedal follows one said elongate curve moving downward while the other said pedal is moving sideways upward along the other said elongate curve. 13) The exercise apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising arm exercise, said arm exercise operably associated with said foot support. 14) The exercise apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said guides are operably associated with an adjustment device, said adjustment device configured to change the orientation of said elongate curves for said pedals. 15) The exercise apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said guide comprises a rocker link, said rocker link pivotally connected to said foot support and said framework. 16) The exercise apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said guide comprises a roller and track, said roller pivotally connected to said foot support and in rollable contact with said track, said track connected to said framework. 17) An exercise apparatus comprising: a framework, said framework configured to be supported by a horizontal surface; a pair of cranks, each said crank rotatably connected to said framework at a pivot axis; a coupling device, said coupling device configured to cause said cranks to have operably associated rotation; a pair of foot supports, each said foot support pivotally connected to a respective said crank and having a foot engaging pedal; a pair of guides, each said guide operably associated with a respective said foot support and said framework to cause a portion of said foot support to have a generally up and down movement; an adjustment device, said adjustment device operably associated with said guides and said framework; said pedal configured to move relative to said framework when the foot of the user is rotating said crank whereby said pedal follows an elongate curve with movement that is sideways to an operator and said adjustment device can change the orientation of said elongate curve. 18) The exercise apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising a control system, said control system operably associated with said adjustment device and positioned within reach of the operator whereby the position of said guides can be varied during operation of said exercise machine. 19) The exercise apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising arm exercise, said arm exercise operably associated with said foot supports. 20) The exercise apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said coupling device is a pair of meshed gears, each gear attached to a respective said crank to rotate about said pivot axis whereby one said crank rotates opposite to the other said crank. 